RETRACTED: Long non-coding RNA HULC promotes bladder cancer cells proliferation but inhibits apoptosis via regulation of ZIC2 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway (Retracted article. See vol. 35, pg. 345, 2022)

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer is the fourth most common malignancy among men urinary system and it is a complex disease caused by genetic and environmental factors. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hepatocellular carcinoma up-regulated long non-coding RNA ( lncRNA HULC) on bladder cancer and to reveal the potential mechanisms. METHODS: The expression level of HULC in 276 bladder cancer patients was detected. The association of HULC level with patient recurrence was performed by Kaplan-Meier and log-rank test. Moreover, T24 and RT4 cells were transfected with HULC and ZIC2 targeted siRNAs, HULC expressing vector and corresponding controls. Subsequently, cell viability, apoptosis and tumorigenesis were examined. RESULTS: The expression level of HULC was increased in bladder cancer tissues. High expression of HULC was correlated with advanced clinical stage and lower recurrence-free rate. HULC was remarkably promoted cell viability but inhibited apoptosis, meanwhile conspicuously increased the expression of Cyclin A/D1/E and Bcl-2. Xenograft tumor model showed that HULC promoted tumor weights in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA HULC promoted bladder cancer cells proliferation and inhibited apoptosis.